Facebook talking to Apple about iPhone version of new app

Bloomberg

Wed, Apr 17, 2013 - Page 15

Facebook Inc is talking to Apple Inc about crafting a version of its new mobile software for the iPhone, in a push to boost revenue from the growing number of users who access the social network on smaller screens.

After debuting the software, called Home, for Google Inc’s Android operating system earlier this month, the operator of the world’s biggest social-networking service is speaking to Apple and Microsoft Corp about expanding to other mobile platforms, Adam Mosseri, director of product at Menlo Park, California-based Facebook, said in an interview on the Bloomberg West TV show on Monday.

The talks are ongoing and nothing has been finalized.

Now that the majority of users access Facebook via mobile devices, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is looking for ways to keep them engaged longer and coaxing more advertisers to pay to place promotions.

While Google’s Android software powered about 70 percent of smartphones worldwide last year, Apple’s iOS commanded about 21 percent, according to Gartner Inc.

“We’ve shown them what we’ve built and we’re just in an ongoing conversation,” Mosseri said, referring to discussions with Apple and Microsoft.

Apple declined to comment and Microsoft did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Facebook and Apple have a “great relationship,” Zuckerberg said when he introduced the Home software earlier this month.

On iPhone devices, the Home software would be tailored to what Apple prefers, Mosseri said.

It could look much different to the Android version.

“It may or may not be Home,” he said.

“We could also just bring some of the design values to the iOS app. That might be how it ends up, or we could build just the lock screen. Maybe then it’s not called Home, it’s called something else,” Mosseri added.

The Home software is designed for newer Android handsets, including some made by Samsung Electronics Co and HTC Corp (宏達電).

Home, which will have monthly updates, can be installed from Google Play, Google’s online app store.